VOLTAIRE I95
Toolish! what do you mean? Is it foolish to come to
see me?y
cHe knows he would be risking too much; but if he came
you would see what a fool he is, and an illusion concerning
him would be at an end/
'And Goldoni?'
'Goldoni is the Italian Moliere.'
Why does he call himself the poet of the Duke of
Parma?'
'Probably to prove that he has his weak side as well as
any other man. He also calls himself a barrister, though he
is none; he is the author of some good comedies, and that is
all. He does not shine in society.3
ĢI have been told that he is poor, and would leave Venice,
but that he fears to displease the managers of the theatres
where his plays are acted.'
'There was some talk of giving him a pension, but the
project fell through; they were afraid the moment his
living was secured he would leave off writing.3
'Cumes refused to give Homer a pension, for fear that
all blind men would ask one!'
We passed the day together. He thanked me effusively
for the Macaronicon I had sent him, and presented me to
a Jesuit named Adam, whispering to me, 'Not Adam, the
first man!'
I was told that they played backgammon together, and
when Voltaire lost he would throw dice and dice-box at the
Jesuit's head. If all the members of that order were treated
with as little consideration we should fairly neutralise them,
but no such luck!
The next day I looked forward to spending happily with
Voltaire, but I was disappointed, for the great man was in
the vilest of tempers, bitter, caustic, and quarrelsome, though
he knew that it was my last day. He thanked me ironically
for my present of Merlin Cocci's book. cYou meant well, I
am sure,' he said, 'but I can't thank you, for I have wasted
four hours over it.'